Great Start Readiness Program
The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is Michigan’s state-funded preschool for four-year-old children. Families qualify for free preschool based on annual income guidelines. The program is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and administered by Wayne RESA. Class size is limited to 16 students, and classes meet for full school days four days a week (M-Th). The program provides educational, health, social work, mental health and parent involvement services.
Information About Dearborn Public Schools Great Start Readiness Program:
Dearborn Public Schools Great Start Readiness Program provides a high quality early learning experience for four-year-old students. We are committed to serving the district’s youngest learners and respect and value our partnership with families and the community.
Children must be 4 years of age by December 1 of the year of entry and reside within the Dearborn Public School District. Students selected for the Great Start Readiness Program must meet guidelines as set forth by Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
The recruitment, eligibility and selection of children for the district’s GSRP program is an ongoing process throughout the school year. As classes are filled to capacity, prioritization continues to be based on families having the most identifiable needs by established criteria. Consideration is taken as to how the eligibility factors can impact the child’s development or future educational success. Application to the program does not imply acceptance. A waitlist is created by the above prioritization process, and vacancies will be filled from the waiting list.
Dearborn Public Schools pre-kindergarten classroom curriculum is aligned with the National Early Childhood Standards and Michigan State Board of Education, Early Childhood Standards of Quality. To ensure fidelity to the standards, the early childhood programs are monitored through an inclusive and collaborative approach. The building principal monitors teaching and learning through the prekindergarten classroom visitation system, teacher evaluation, weekly collaboration, Professional Learning Communities, student assessments (Child Observation Record), and through a formalized process, the Program Quality Assessment.
Documentation Needed for Application Process
For an application, please contact Cotter School at 313-827-6150.
- Child must be four (4) years old by December 1st, of the year he/she begins school.
- Completed Application Form
- Birth Certificate
- Proof of Income (1040 tax form, 3 recent pay stubs, W2)
- The child’s parents or guardians must reside in Dearborn (Deed or Lease Agreement and current DTE bill)
- Family Interview
- Assessment of Child
Who qualifies?
In addition to the age requirement, all children must also meet GSRP Eligibility Factors.
The seven program eligibility factors used to determine GSRP eligibility are:
Environmental risk
Low family income
Diagnosed disability or identified developmental delay
Severe or challenging behavior
Primary home language other than English
Parent(s) with low educational attainment
Abuse/neglect of child or parent
GSRP Site Locations
Becker Elementary
Cotter Early Childhood Center
DuVall Elementary
Geer Park Elementary
Henry Ford Elementary
Long Elementary
Lowrey School
McCollough Elementary
McDonald Elementary
Oakman Elementary
River Oaks Elementary
Salina Intermediate & Elementary
Snow Elementary
Whitmore-Bolles Elementary
William Ford Elementary
* Please note, we will do our best to provide the most appropriate placement, but placement is not guaranteed.